The power of the mind is immeasurable, particularly in those life situations that you never in a million years thought you’d ever face, let alone overcome.
At the same time, your mindset can be your worst enemy that creates obstacles out of productive solutions, pushes positive people away, and hides from life instead of living it.
Needless to say, willpower and a proper mindset are extremely important when it comes to sticking to your fitness goals and actually doing all those grueling exercises for hours on end to achieve them.
Today, we take a closer look at what it takes to have a proper state of mind that can take you to the finish line in fitness and in life.
The Power of Destruction
One of the most difficult things in life is being your own friend. Most of us are our own worst enemies, sabotaging our own efforts and chances of success, from finishing (or not) that brutal 45-minute cardio session on the treadmill to finish that law degree.
Self-destruction usually comes from within, and when all those negative thoughts and doubts accumulate, all hell breaks loose. We start failing at everything, from little things that don’t mean much in the grand scheme of things, to some major aspects of life by making the wrong decisions, and taking the wrong turns.
All because of our own destructive mindset:
One of the reasons why regular physical activity is a thing of beauty is because it keeps the mind healthy, and negative thoughts at bay. It gives us tremendous self-confidence that helps us take on the world and all the challenges that it throws our way.
The Power of Positive Thoughts
Positive thoughts for a positive life. This is one of the most powerful motivational quotes known to man because it speaks volumes about what each and every one of us can do to improve our lives if we nurture a positive mindset.
Positive thoughts can turn the worst of situations into learning experiences, and help us appreciate the good things that are happening in life even more. No fitness enthusiast ever goes through a workout without wishing to quit a difficult exercise before it is actually completed. However, with the power of positive thoughts, not only can you stick to the end of your leg press exercise, you can ‘move mountains’ with those legs if necessary.
For instance, fitness underground is a very popular scene for all those exercise freaks who are sick and tired of regular gyms and need something different to motivate them to keep going.
Regardless of how much you appreciate strong muscles, not all of us are able to put in all the sweat and tears that go into shaping an out-of-this-world pectoralis major, and even those who do curse the day they stepped into a gym when their muscles feel like they’re going to burst or like their chest is going to explode. However, they keep pushing thanks to a positive and productive mindset and their motivation, and the result is absolute physical perfection.
Proper Mindset More Important Than Fitness Program
The truth is, people can get fitness results no matter what training program they choose, be it yoga, Pilates, CrossFit, or bodybuilding. What separates ripped hunks and babes from mere mortals is their mindset not to quit and to always go the extra mile at the gym, be it literally or figuratively.
In fitness, as in life, flexibility and consistency are key. People who achieve goals are those who know that there is more than one way to get to the finish line. Those who know how to prioritize and not substitute a workout for a coffee with friends or binge-watching Netflix are those that rule the gym, and make the rest of us feel like beginners.
Being flexible with your workout means that if you don’t like kettlebells you’ll use another way to exercise the same muscle groups and ultimately achieve the same results. Flexibility also means you’ll adapt to any circumstances and won’t let anything stand in the way of your full body transformation.
Behavior Change
A proper mindset can help you power through the most difficult situations at the gym and outside it, but behavior change can have long-lasting effects on your fitness level, health, and any other aspect of life that requires discipline.
Learning sustainable skills is one of the ways to change your behavior and ensure you stay on the right path for good. Simplify your workouts, and don’t force yourself to do things you hate – lunges certainly come to mind – because sooner or later you’ll give up on your entire fitness regimen, and for what? For hating leg day altogether? Well, change it around!
If you learn to strengthen your goals, you’ll help keep those positive thoughts going and that mindset sharp and ready for action. For instance, one of your goals should be to learn to forget about the scale. Your workouts are primarily for your health, feeling good about your body, and loving the results. You can’t let a few digits on the scale affect that at all!
Finally, when you set your mind to something you’ll fail only under one condition – if you give up. In all other scenarios, you’ll come out of a clear winner!
